Injury bug follows Vanderbilt's Foggie into sophomore season

Christina Foggie is headstrong again. Now, she is focused on getting back on her feet.

After a promising freshman campaign was plagued by injuries — most stemming from a concussion — the Vanderbilt shooting guard can’t seem to elude the injury bug.

Foggie’s concussion and post-concussion syndrome concerns are in the past. But after undergoing surgery on one ankle in August, she sprained her other one in practice two weeks ago and is questionable for Saturday’s 2 p.m. exhibition game at Memorial Gymnasium against Clayton (Ga.) State, the defending Division II champ.

“I think she is real frustrated right now. She is tired of being hurt,” Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb said. “It has been nagging things that have pulled her in and out of practice because she was practicing really well — again — and gets pulled out.”

Foggie is a valuable asset for the Commodores, who are coming off a 20-12 season and are picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference. The 5-foot-9 guard is a sparkplug on offense, averaging 9.9 points in just 23.8 minutes last year.

She was second on the team in made 3-pointers (41) and steals (21) but missed 11 games. A calf injury caused her to miss the second game of the season but the bigger scare came on Dec. 1 against Bowling Green. While on defense, she ran into a screen, hitting her head hard against an opponents’ shoulder. She had to be carted off the court and stayed over night at a Bowling Green hospital as a precautionary measure.

“I remember running into the pick,” Foggie said. “After that I just remember waking up on the floor.”

She missed three games before returning on Dec. 19 but missed seven more due to post-concussion syndrome. She also suffered another concussion in late January when she took an elbow from a teammate in practice.

Foggie battled headaches and experienced memory loss. She also was very sensitive to light and noise, and at times sat on the end of the bench, wearing earplugs.

“It was a very nerve-racking time,” she said. “I’m so happy that it is gone, completely, because that is a rough thing to try and deal with, not even with basketball but school, just being away from home.”

A native of Mount Laurel, N.J., she said rest was the best medicine as her symptoms finally vanished in February.

Now, she hopes rest will again be the answer as she tries to bounce back and be available for Vanderbilt’s season opener against visiting Alabama A&M on Nov. 11.

“This whole offseason I have worked to get stronger and avoiding hitting screens as much as I did last year. That was a freshman mistake of mine,” she said. “It was disappointing to get injured like that, but things happen and I am just ready to bounce back this year and make it much a better year.”